You think maybe you’ve found it?”
“I…don’t know.”
“This woman scares you.”
“Yeah. She scared me nine years ago, too.”
“And you let her get away. Might want to think about if you want to do the same thing again now. But hey, you’ve got the next three months to think about it.”
“Right. Any advice?”
“About women? Yeah. After two years of marriage I can say with some authority that they want a guy who’ll provide chocolate and who will shut up when they’re talking. Never-and dude I can’t stress this enough-
Adam raised his brows. “This is what you’ve come up with after two years of experience?”
“Believe me, there are guys who’ve been married twenty years who haven’t figured out those pearls I just cast before you.”
“I think I could have figured those little gems out on my own.”
“I don’t know. Women-they’re tough to figure out.” He nodded toward a photo of Annie holding Caroline. “But when you find the right one, they’re worth the effort. It just boils down to deciding what you really want. What’s going to make you happy.”
He slapped Adam on the back and nudged him toward the door. “Now go home and pack so I can catch a catnap with my wife before our daughter wakes up. Have a great trip and touch base every once in a while, okay?”
Adam departed and spent the drive back to Manhattan and the entire night mulling over Nick’s words.
All he needed to do was decide.
And after hours of soul-searching, he finally knew.
When dawn broke over the city, staining the sky in streaks of mauve and gold, he stood at the door of his apartment, holding the handle of his wheeled suitcase. With one last look around, he headed toward his car to drive to the airport.
15
MALLORY GLANCED at her office wall clock and pretended that she wasn’t thinking about Adam. Thank goodness her mother would be here in a few minutes. Lunch with Mom, telling her what she’d decided, would make the hours until she drove to the airport pass more quickly. She had a few things to say to Adam before his plane departed.
She hadn’t slept much last night, but at least she’d done a lot of soul-searching and had finally figured out what she wanted. Now all she had to do was tell him.
As she was the only agent in the office at the moment, she plopped her purse on her desk and started digging for her keys to lock up when she went to lunch. She’d just felt them at the bottom of her bag when the bell above the glass door chimed.
Expecting to see her mother, she looked up from her purse with a wide smile.
And went perfectly still.
Adam stood just inside the doorway. Adam looking big and strong and gorgeous, wearing a navy pinstripe suit, white dress shirt and maroon paisley tie. Carrying a tremendous bouquet that had to contain at least three dozen pale lavender roses, the same delicate shade as the single bud he’d given her Saturday night.
Her heart performed an intricate maneuver and she swallowed to find her voice. “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself.” He walked toward her, his gaze steady on hers. Since her knees weren’t feeling too well, she leaned her hips against her desk and strove to appear exactly what she wasn’t-calm, cool and collected.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, proud of how smooth her voice sounded.
He stopped an arm’s length away and handed her the flowers. “I wanted to give you these.”
Their fingers touched when she took the tissue-wrapped bouquet, tingling awareness up her arm. “They’re beautiful,” she said, burying her face in the fragrant blooms. Then she lifted her head and smiled. “My birthday isn’t for months.”
“They’re to thank you. For a beautiful night.”
It took a great deal of effort not to heave out a gushy, feminine sigh. “In that case, I should have bought
“And I wanted to see you again.”
“How did you know where my office was?”
“I called your mom.”
“My mom?
“And what sort of surprise would that have been? Besides, your mother and I had a great chat.”
Her radar instantly quivered. A chat? With her mother? Her mother who knew Adam had spent the night during the blackout? Her mother who was an expert at extracting details before you even realized you’d imparted them?
“You’ll be seeing her any minute,” she said, trying not to sound wary. “I’m expecting her at noon.” Her gaze drifted over his suit, purely in an observational sort of way. Certainly not in a “holy moly do you look incredible and my knees are sweating and I want you to kiss me so bad I think I’m drooling” sort of way. “You look more ready for a business meeting than a flight.”
His eyes appeared to darken. “I’m hoping to have a business meeting.”
“Before your plane departs? Boy, you have a tight schedule.”
“Actually, I have lots of time.” He lowered his chin then looked up at her, a boyish grin tugging at his lips.
“What?” she asked.
“I have a confession to make.”
“I’m not a priest.”
He made a great show of looking around the empty office. “Since there doesn’t seem to be one available, I guess you’ll have to do. I’ve commandeered your lunch appointment. Your mom won’t be here any minute.”
“How do you know?”
“When I told her that I was hoping to take you to lunch, she very graciously offered to reschedule. She’ll call you later to find out what day this week is best for you.”
“So now you’re my lunch date?”
“If that’s okay.”
She was afraid even to consider how many ways it was okay. “Sure.” Her lips twitched. “But I was kind of looking forward to girl chatting with Mom about the big sale at Victoria’s Secret.”
“I’m more than happy to talk lingerie. Bras and panties? I’m your man.”
“Oh? How’s that?”
“I’d planned to go to the airport to see you off this evening. Wish you bon voyage.”
Something flickered in his eyes. “I’m flattered.”
“So where do you want to go for lunch?”
